Lacing-loop.



No.757,679. PATENTED APR.1 9',1904. G. W. PRENTIGE.

LAGING LOOP.

APPLICATION FILED 13150.21, 1903.'

K0 MODEL.

. INVE NTEIR: @Emspa .Ere nfice 'NITED STATES .Patented April 19, 1904.

PATENT Orricn- LAClNG-LOOP.

SPECIFICATION forming We of Letters Application filed Qeceniber 21,1903;

To all 1072,0111, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. PRENTIGE, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of Providence, in the county of Providenceand State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Lacing-Loops, of which the following is a specification.

My invention herewith relates to shoe-lacing devices; and it consists ofa closed lacingloop, formed from a single sheet-metal blank, having atable member provided witha pair of laterally-separated downwardly-bentattaching-prongs and an elongated oppositelydisposed member bent to forma closed loop above the table and extending downwardly thereunderbetween said prongs and terminating in an attaching-prong, all ashereinafter set forth and claimed.

In former shoe-lacing devices, or lacinghooks, as they are termed, ithas been usual to provide them with eyeleted shanks and open eyes orhooks for the reception of the shoe-laces. Lacing-hooks of such formertype are comparatively expensive to manufacture from the fact thatspecial stock or material is required for their production, while theoperations of treating and shaping the blanks are comparatively slowprocesses.

My improved lacing-loops may be produced from commercial sheet-metalstock in an expeditious and inexpensive manner. They possess a table orbase of comparatively large area and may be readily attached to the shoemechanically or by hand implements substantially the same as used forsecuring pronged button-fasteners to shoes. It is obvious, too, that theshoe-lace cannot become accidentally detached from the lacing-loop whenin use.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, inenlarged scale, illustrating my improved sheet-metal pronged lacing-loopbefore being secured to a shoe. Fig. 2 is a corresponding side or endview. Fig. 3 is a side view showing the lacing-loop attached to a pieceof leather or other pliable material as in use; Fig. 4 is acorresponding horizontal or sectional plan view taken on line a: a: ofFig. 3, the leather being omitted; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of thesheet-metal Patent No..757,67 9, dated April 19, 1904.

Serial No. 185,991. (No model.)

blank from which the closed lacing-loop is formed.

As just stated, m, Fig. 5, designates the sheet-metal blank capable ofbeing shaped or bent to produce my improved or novel onepiecelacing-loop a. The blank has a comparatively large flat portion 6, fromwhich extend the two parallel sharpened members Z) 75, separated by theopen space or recess /2.. From the Opposite side or end of the part textends an elongated sharpened central member 6, the sides or edges ofthe latter being bent, as shown at c, contiguous to the part t, all asclearly shown. In order to transform said blank into the lacing-loop [0,Figs. 1 and 2,

the part c is bent upwardly and around to form the closed loop 0, theother part of said member being passed between the side members Z2 andunderneath the'flat base or table if and finally bent downwardly to formthe attaching-prong Z2. The said two side members are also bentdownwardly and constitute attachingprongs Z). I prefer to have thepronged members extend slightly beyond the ends of the loop proper,substantially as represented in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, thereby increasingthe holding capacity of the device.

The manner of securing or attaching the improved lacing-loop a to shoes,&c., is or may be substantially the same as that employed in attachingother types of pronged fasteners to shoes-as, for example, prongedbutton-fasteners. Fig. 3 represents the lacing-looprigidly secured to aflexible or pli able materials, as leather,-the several prongs havingbeen forced therethrough and clenched thereunder. In this arrangementthe shank of the central pronged member becomes practically embedded inthe surface'of the leather and is protected by the table a;

I would add that the central member 5, or rather the corresponding partc of the loop, may bear against the bottom n of the recess a, Fig. 4,thereby when in use equalizing or distributing the strain or pullimparted to the lacing-loop through the lace Z. I prefer to make the eyeor tie 0 of the loop curved or round cross-sectionally, therebypresenting a better holding for the lace and preventing excessive wear.

I do not claim, broadly, a fastening device made of sheet metal arrangedto form an eye or loop wherein one member thereof is bent and disposedunder the upper or table member, as a button-fastening device embodyingto some extent the feature just described was issued to me September 19,1882, in United States Patent No. 264,842.

I claim as my invention As an improved article of manufacture theone-piece sheet-metal lacing-loop, substantially as hereinbeforedescribed, the same comprising a forked base or table member havingattaching -prongs depending therefrom, and an elongated narrower memberbent to form a closed arch or loop, its lower portion passing throughthe forked part of the base and extending thereunder and terminat- GEO.W. PRENTICE.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. REMINGTON, CALVIN H. BROWN.

